Creating the conditions for strong, connected communities.

Our sustainable framework helps schools work alongside their communities by providing training, resources, and tools to uncover local strengths, connect people and opportunities, and support local leadership.

This approach advocates for change that is community-owned, cost-effective, and lasting. Today, we collaborate with over 20 community hubs linked to more than 50 schools, creating spaces where children, families, and neighbours come together to lead.

How this works

Each Hub is shaped by its local community and guided by shared principles that strengthen the seven key functions of community life. We stay curious about what’s emerging across hubs, reflect on how and why change happens, and share learning across the network to deepen impact in ways that matter locally.

Caring for the environment

Protecting local spaces and making sustainable choices for the future.

Building local opportunities

Creating ways for people to earn, learn, and thrive within their own community.

Enabling Health

Helping schools and communities support wellbeing and promote good health for everyone.

Raising children

Partnering with families and schools to nurture, guide, and educate the next generation.

Growing and sharing food

Supporting community gardens, shared meals, and access to healthy, local food.

Connecting and caring for each other

Bringing people together to ensure everyone feels valued and included.

Strengthening safety and trust

Working together to build trust and create safe, welcoming, and resilient neighbourhoods.

Accordion administration : How we support this

How we work

The United Communities framework includes:

Learning and development

Network membership

Funding local ideas

Learning together

Learning and development

Our training offer includes:

Asset-Based Community Development training
A bespoke Cradle-to-Career partnership with the Reach Foundation
Coaching and mentoring
Fundraising training

Network

We run a national network of youth and community workers whose work is linked to schools. We come together six times a year to connect, learn together, explore challenges and opportunities, co-produce future Network activities, and deepen our collective practice.

Network activities include:

Three in-person days each year including one residential
Three virtual network calls
Sharing stories
Exploring and understanding how change happens
Continuous training opportunities
Peer-mentoring

Funding local ideas

We invest in local ideas through the Ignite Communities Fund.

Community Hubs can apply, and any local resident may submit an idea. The fund supports initiatives with a clear plan for lasting impact and ownership beyond the Hub. With three application windows each year, Hubs may apply for multiple initiatives, but only once per initiative to keep the focus on sustainable change. Funded initiatives include:

A community pantry designed by children at Marlborough Community Hub in Salford.
An inclusive youth club developed with a young person at United Communities’ Paulsgrove in Portsmouth.
A sewing group established by women at Woodlands Community Hub in Sheffield.

Learning together

Driven by curiosity and collaboration, we work alongside Hubs to understand the impact of this work on community and educational priorities.

Evaluation – sharing learning through participatory and self- evaluation that places value on community insight and collective learning.
Research – a longitudinal study examining indicators of impact on community life and educational outcomes.
Storytelling – Sharing tools and resources that help communities tell and amplify the stories that matter to them.
Peer support – Fostering an enabling culture where we support the emergence of self-organised regional networks, connect experienced and emerging youth and community leaders through peer mentoring, and invite every network member to shape and deliver our work together.